Residents of the MCC-Uratta road area and its community in Owerri North Local Government Area and within Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) Imo State have raised alarm over alleged threat to their lives and properties by the siting of a new mega private gas station in the vicinity. The residents called for its immediate relocation of the fuel station as their lives are in danger.
The residents under the auspices of Mcc-Uratta Road Residents Association (MURRA), led by Barr. Izuchukwu Anyanwu, after their well-attended meeting petitioned the state government on what they considered to be “Serious threat to their lives and properties” and called for possible relocation to avoid regrets in near future.
In a press statement endorsed by Barr. Izuchukwu Anyanwu and Rev. Godswill Opara, the Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively “The approval by Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) and any other agency or agencies of the state government to build a fuel cum gas stations between White House and Mountain of Fire Church bus stops along the ever busy MCC – Uratta road is unacceptable to us, considering the facts that the area is a highly populated residential quarters with schools and commercial activities.”
The release read in part: “The fuel station is dealing with highly inflammable products that have the likelihood of posing serious life-threatening danger to the residents. Besides, if there’s any incident of fire outbreak within the area, the extent of damages could be enormous, considering similar experiences in recent time and in various parts of the country.
Prevention they said is better than cure. We are sending Save Our Souls (SOS) message to the Government of Imo state under the leadership of Senator Hope Uzodinma and all her relevant agencies to revoke whatever permit (s) given to the owner authorizing him or her to build the fuel cum gas stations within the area because of its hazard implications.”
It may be recalled that early last year when the station was been constructed, they equally raised alarm and petitioned various agencies of the state government, such as the Department of Petroleum Regulations (DPR), OCDA, the state Ministry of Health, and the then Governor. Their interventions at the time made them to stop work immediately.
Communities expressed dismay that within the last two weeks, probably due to the change in government of the state, the owner has aggressively commenced work on the site using the state security operatives and some Staff of OCDA to protect the site.
They further noted that was a major school in that vicinity, stressing that school children inhaling the gas or fuel ts odor on daily basis constitute serious health threats. Furthermore, noise emanating from the stations could certainly make learning difficult to them considering their ages. Community members finally resolved to send petitions again within the week through their lawyer, to Government agencies to investigate these issues to prevent unforeseen disaster.
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